Shohei Ohtani hit a two-run homer in the first inning and the visiting Los Angeles Angels recorded a 5-2 victory over the New York Yankees on Tuesday night.
Ohtani reached base for the 38th time in 39 games dating back to last season and hit his eighth homer in 18 career games against the Yankees. It was his fourth homer in 11 career games at the current Yankee Stadium, and he connected on the 100th anniversary of the original Yankee Stadium, where Babe Ruth hit the first homer.
After Taylor Ward opened the game with a double, Ohtani hit his fourth homer of the season. He lifted a 2-0 pitch from Clarke Schmidt (0-1) into the Yankees bullpen in right-center field for a 391-foot drive.
Anthony Rendon also drove in two runs for Los Angeles, hitting an RBI single and a sacrifice fly that scored Ohtani. Hunter Renfroe contributed an RBI double for the Angels, who won their second game in a row after losing three straight.
Ohtani’s speed led to the Angels’ fifth run in the fifth inning. Ohtani stole second after reaching via catcher’s interference, took third on a throwing error by catcher Kyle Higashioka and trotted home on Rendon’s sacrifice fly.
Ohtani’s big night helped the Angels survive a shaky start from Jose Suarez.
Suarez lasted 3 1/3 innings and issued a career-high six walks but only allowed two runs on three hits. He entered the game having issued just one walk over his first two starts this season.
Suarez exited after walking Aaron Hicks to load the bases. Andrew Wantz (1-0) walked rookie Anthony Volpe and gave up a sacrifice fly to Aaron Judge before fanning Anthony Rizzo with runners at second and third.
Wantz also tossed a perfect fifth and Jimmy Herget followed with two spotless innings. Jaime Barria tossed a scoreless eighth, and Jose Quijada pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his third save.
Schmidt continued to struggle, tagged for four runs on six hits in 3 2/3 innings. He struck out five and has yet to pitch beyond the fourth in four starts this year.
–Field Level Media
